Arrow heads



Filed July 1, 1959 INVENTOR em /0 J ZW/ur Z5 Z2. 45 Yg) I Ba 7 44 HQ 5 BY (rw w ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,064,977 ARROW HEADS Clifiord J. Zwickey, 107 12th Ave. NE., North St. Paul, Minn. Filed July 1, 1959, Ser. No. 824,415 14 Claims. (Cl. 273-.-106.5)

This invention relates to an improvement in arrow heads and deals particularly with an arrow head useful in shooting fish, small game and birds.

During recent years, the sport of archery has increased materially in popularity. While for a good number of years the sport was concerned mainly with target shooting, the use of arrows to kill game has become increasingly popular. The use of archery in catching fish has also become popular. One of the biggest difiiculties experienced in catching small fish and game lies in the fact that means must be provided for anchoring the arrow head in the fish or game and difiiculty is then often experienced in removing the arrow from the game due to the fact that it is not desirable to be required to remove the arrow by forcing it forward entirely through the fish or game which has been shot. It is an object of the present invention to provide a comparatively low cost arrow head which embodies the desirable feature of being easily extracted from the fish or game.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of an arrow head including a generally flat body having a pair of opposed channels on opposite longitudinal sides of the arrow head and in providing a generally U-shaped spring structure or barb which is slidably supported in these channels. The arms of the spring are normally biased apart so as to diverge away from the rear end of the arrow head. In this position, the spring arms will emerge into the body of the fish or game which has been shot so as to prevent the withdrawal of the arrow and to permit the game to be retrieved by the use of a cord or similar member attached to the arrow. However, by sliding the U-shaped spring member forwardly on the arrow head, the ends of the arms may be sprung together so as to permit the withdrawal of the arrow head from the game without difiiculty.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an arrow head which will firmly engage the body of the object shot to prevent accidental withdrawal of the arrow from this body. However, when it is desired to remove the arrow head and arrow from the game, the arrow head, if not already emerged from the body of the game, is forced forwardly to emerge therefrom. The spring is drawn forwardly so as to retract the normally diverging spring arms and the arrow head is retracted through the body of the game shot without interference of the spring arms.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an arrow head including a generally U-shaped spring member which is slidably supported in opposed channel shaped sides of the arrow head body. When desired, the spring may be removed or detached from the arrow head by flexing one side of the U-shaped spring toward the other until this side of the spring becomes disengaged from the channel shaped support, whereupon the spring may be removed by twisting the spring relative to the body of the arrow head.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an arrow head which slidably supports a U-shaped spring having opposite arms connected by a connecting member slidably supported on the body of the arrow head. When the U-shaped spring is in its rear.- ward extreme position, the spring arms diverge apart so as to prevent accidental removal of the arrow in a reverse direction. When the U-shaped spring is moved for- 3,064,977 Patented Nov, 20, 1962 wardly, the channel shaped sides of the body will contract the spring arms together. A cord is preferably connected to the cross member of the spring insuring the fact that the spring will be in its rearward extreme position when the arrow is retrieved by means of the .cord.

A further feature of the present invention resides in an arrow head of the type described including a cord guide on the arrow head body through which the cord extends so as to guide the pull of the cord on the spring rearwardly relative to the arrow head body.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the arrow head and for? ward part of the arrow shaft, showing the general arrangement of parts.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the parts in a different position.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the arrow head.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view through the arrow head, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4*4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a detailed of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a modified form of con struction of arrow heads.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a modified form of construction.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the spring used in the construction illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The arrowhead is indicated in general by the letter A. It comprises an elongated member of sheet metal or the like having a generally flat forward portion 10- preferably terminating in a pointed end 11. A tapered generally channel shaped groove 12 flares outwardly from the pointed forward end 11 to the rear portion of the flat body.

As is best indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the sides of the body portion 10 spaced rearwardly from the pointed forward end 11 are bent as indicated at 13 to provide inwardly extending flan es 14 generally parallel to the flat body 10 which provides opposed channel shaped grooves 15. In the particular arrangement illusportion trated in FIGURE 1, the flanges 14 are generally trian-p Rearwardly of the flanges 14, the body.

gular in shape. of the arrow head is formed into two abutting portions 16 which form a socket generally circular in cross section and which taper from a relatively small diameter at their forward end 17 to a relatively larger diameter at their rear end 19. The flanges 16 provide a socket at the rear of the arrowhead to accommodate the arrow shaft 20.

A generally U-shaped spring member 21 is slidably supported in the channel shaped grooves 15 provided between the flanges 14 and the body portion 10. The spring 21 includes a pair of spring arms 22 and a con necting portion 23. In preferred form, the connecting portion 23 is somewhat V-shaped in plan to provide a central portion 24 which is slightly rearward of the ends of the connecting portion. The arms 22 normally diverge apart and are biased toward the bases or curved portions 13 of the grooves 15 and terminate in outwardly turned extremities 25. These extremities 25 are designed to engage against the ends of the flanges 14 to limit the forward movement of the spring 21.

An abutment forming member 26, best illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, is welded or otherwise afiixed to the center portion of the arrow head body 10. In view of the fact that this central body portion is provided with a tapered groove 12, the center portion 27 of the member 26 is preferably channel shaped to fit against the base of the groove 12. The member 26 is provided with a shoulder forming portion 29 which extends angularly to the center portion 27 and is provided with an aperture 30. The opposite end of the member 26 is provided with a shoulder 31 which terminates in a generally triangular projection 32 designed to extend into the split between the forward ends of the flanges 16 so as to form a front closure for the socket in which the arrow shaft 20 is engaged. The shoulder 31 and triangular portion 32 also serve as a means for preventing the retracted cord from becoming wedged between the forward ends of the flanges 16 as will be later understood.

The cord 33 is preferably secured to the center portion 24 of the connecting member 23 of the spring 21 and extends through the aperture 30 of the shoulder forming member 26. The cord 33 is provided to permit the arrow to be retrieved after it is shot. Furthermore, it will be noted that any pull by the archer upon the cord 33 tends to slide the spring element 21 rearwardly so as to prevent the spring from being disengaged from the body of the objectwhich is shot.

If, for example, the arrow is used to shoot a fish, the arrow enters the body of the fish while the spring element 21 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The arms 22 of the spring tend to flex together as the arrow enters the body of the fish to simplify the entry of the arrow head into the fish. However, when the fish tries to swim away, the pull upon the cord 33 insures the spreading of the arms 22 and the ends of these arms act effectively to prevent the disengagement of the arrow from the body of the fish and permit the fish to be drawn to the archer.

As it is most convenient to retract the arrow from the fish by a reverse movement of the arrow, ditficulty would be experienced in removing the arrow if the spring element were aflixed to arrow head body 10. However, in the present construction, the arrow head A is forced through the body of the fish until the cross member 23 of the spring 21 is exposed. The archer may then draw the spring 21 forwardly into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, until the ends 25 of the spring engage the ends of the flanges 114. In this position, the ends of the spring no longer act to prevent the withdrawal of the arrow and the arrow head may be removed by a reverse movement of the arrow head through the fish.

As will be understood, an ear or tongue may be struck from the base of the groove 12 to form the shoulder 29 through which the cord 33 is guided, this flange or the flange 29 acting to limit the rearward movement of the spring 21 relative to the arrow head. However, the added element 26 is of advantage as it not only provides a shoulder to limit rearward movement of the spring, but also acts to guide the cord 33 away from the V-shaped notch 34 formed between the forward ends of the flanges 16 and prevents the wedging of the cord 33 in the body of the arrow head.

In FIGURE 6 of the drawings, an arrow head B is disclosed. As the body of the device is identical to that of the arrow head A, the same identifying numerals have been employed. The arrow head B is particularly useful in the hunting of birds and the like. In place of the Ushaped spring 21, a generally U-shaped spring 35 is provided which includes a generally U-shaped central connecting portion 36, and outwardly biased arms 37. The arms 37 differ from the previously described arms 22 in that they are bent as indicated at 39 to provide forwardly extending extremities 40 which extend in generally parallel relation and parallel to the axis of the arrow head. The forward ends of the extremities 40 may be barbed as indicated at 41 to extend into the bird and assist in retaining the bird.

While the arrow head B does not have all of the advantages of the arrow head A, the structure does have the advantage that the spring element 35 may be attached and removed in the same manner as the spring 21. In other wordsfby sliding the spring element 35 forwardly, the element may be detached by flexing one of the arms 37 inwardly until it clears the edge of the flange 14. At this point, the spring element may be pivoted or hinged relative to the remainder of the arrow head so as to de tach the spring unit from the remainder of the arrow head.

It will be seen that due to the similarity between the body of the arrow head A and the body of the arrow head B, the same arrow head may be used in hunting fish or small game and in hunting birds or similar creatures. In other words, the spring unit 35 may be substituted for the spring unit 21 and the same arrow may be used for hunting fish or birds.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, another modified form of arrow head is provided which is virtually identical with the arrow head A, FIGURE 7 of the drawings in dicating a section through the arrow head similar to FIG- URE 4 of the drawings. The main feature of dilference lies in the fact that the shoulder forming element 26 shown in the arrow head A is omitted. The spring unit 42 which is used in conjunction with the arrow head is very similar to spring unit 21 and includes a pair of spring arms 43 connected by a connecting portion 44 However, in the arrow head C, the connecting portion 44 is generally arcuate in form and is arced away from the body of the arrow head as indicated by the numeral 10 so that the arced portion of the connecting member 44 engages against the ends of the flanges 14 to limit the rearward movement of the spring 42. In other words, the shoulder forming element 26 is omitted and the cord 33 is connected directly to the arcuate portion 44 of the spring 43, the shape of the connecting portion 44 acting to serve the purpose of a stop shoulder and to limit the rearward movement of the spring.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of construction and operation of my arrow head, and While -I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, it should be understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An arrow head for use upon an arrow shaft including an elongated body having opposed channel shaped side edges forming opposed inwardly facing channels, a forward end, and means at the opposite end designed for attachment with an arrow shaft, a generally U-shaped spring including a pair of arms and a connecting member, said arms being in diverging relation to each other from said connecting member, said U-shaped spring being slidable longitudinally along said elongated body, said arms being engaged in said opposed inwardly facing channels, means for moving said spring slidably along said body, said connecting member being positioned nearest the forward end of said body, means for limiting slidable movement of said spring longitudinally, said spring arms being held in restricted divergence by engagement of said arms in said channels.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said means for limiting longitudinal slidable movement of said spring includes a shoulder abutment on said elongated body.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said means for limiting slidable longitudinal movement of said spring includes means on said connecting member engageable' with said opposed inwardly facing channels.

.4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said spring is retained in said opposed inwardly facing channels by expansible spring tension and is detachable from said channels by compressing said arms together to disengage 7 one of said arms from the corresponding channel and rotation of said spring outwardly from said body.

5. An arrow head for use upon an arrow shaft including an elongated fiat body having channel shaped side edges forming opposed inwardly facing channels, a forward pointed end, and a shaft receiving socket at the opposite end for attachment with a narrow shaft, a general U- shaped spring including a pair of arms and a connecting member, said arms being normally biased outwardly from said connecting member toward said opposed inwardly facing channels, said U-shaped spring being slidable longitudinally along said elongated body with said arms engaged in said opposed inwardly facing channels, means for moving said spring slidably longitudinally along said body, said connecting member being positioned nearest the forward end of said body, means for limiting slidable movement of said spring longitudinally, said spring arms being restricted in divergence by engagement of said arms with said channels.

6. The structure of claim 5 and in which said arms include extremities which are bent outwardly and forwardly.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which said arm extremities are barbed.

8. The structure of claim 5 and in which said arms are disengageable from said opposed inwardly facing channels by flexing one of said arms toward the other until said one arm is free from its corresponding channel.

9. An arrow head for use upon an arrow shaft including an elongated flat body having channel shaped side edges forming inwardly facing opposed channels, a forward pointed end, a means at the opposite end designed for attachment with an arrow shaft, a generally U-shaped spring including a pair of arms and a connecting member, said arms being normally biased outwardly from said connecting member toward said channel shaped sides, said U-shaped spring being slidable longitudinally along said elongated body with said arms being engaged in said opposed inwardly facing channels, said connecting member being positioned nearest the forward end of said body, means for moving said spring slidably longitudinally along said body, means limiting slidable movement of said spring longitudinally, said spring arms being held in restricted divergence from each other by engagement of said arms in said channels, said arms being disengageable from said channels by compression of said arms toward each other and rotation of said spring outwardly from said body.

10. The structure of claim 9 and including a shoulder abutment having an aperture therethrough limiting rearward longitudinal sliding movement of said spring, and a cord extending through said aperture and attached to said connecting member of said spring for use in retrieving 6 said arrow head and for controlling relative movement of said spring in relation to said arrow head body.

11. The structure of claim 9 and including a member secured to said body having a shoulder with an aperture therethrough against which said connecting member may engage to limit rearward longitudinal movement of said spring, a cord extending through said aperture and attached to said connecting member, and in which said body sides conically form a socket having two open ends, one of said ends being designed for attachment with an arrow shaft, and including a second shoulder forming a closure for the forward end of said socket.

12. An arrow head for use upon an arrow shaft, said arrow head including an elongated body having a pair of opposed channel shaped portions with recesses facing inwardly, a forward end, and a shaft connecting means at the rearward end, a generally U-shaped spring structure including a pair of arms and a connecting member, said arms being biased toward diverging relation from each other, said U-shaped spring structure being movably engaged in said opposed channel recesses with the said connecting member positioned forwardly of said arms, the free ends of said arms normally diverging away from the longitudinal axis of said body.

13. The structure of claim 1 and in which the normally diverging arms are generally parallel and are held from divergence from each other in one movable position hereof by said channels.

14. An arrow head for use upon an :arrow shaft, said arrow head including an elongated relatively flat body having a forward end, and a rear end attachable to an arrow shaft, a generally U-shaped spring having elongated arms forming a barb structure slidably supported by said head for movement in a generally longitudinal direction, said spring having a forward end substantially contained within the confines of said body, and barb structures elliptically diverging away from the axis of said arrow head body and each other in one position thereof and being substantially parallel to each other and said axis in another position thereof, said spring having a flexible cord attached thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,725,656 Schmidt Dec. 6, 1955 2,753,643 Recker July 10, 1956 2,816,766 Stockfieth Dec. 17, 1957 2,904,338 Podufal Sept. 15, 1959 2,939,708 Scheib June 7, 1960 

